junkaudio
Super Member
only the first tt from thorens were made in swiss after that they were made in germany . thorens history line : http://www.thorens-info.de/html/thorens-zeittafel.html
Thoren's Vs Technics
- Thread starter HypnoToad
- Start date
www.records
Quality over Quantity
I own and currently have hooked up both a TD160 (except with a Linn arm) and a Technics SP-25 (basically a 1200 in new clothes)/ATP-12T arm. The arms are at extreme opposites, so doing a fair comparison between the two would be worthless. The 160 has an AT440Ml cart and the SP-25 has a Denon 103R.
I would recommend either table and feel sure they would make the owner happy. The 160 is very musical but rather fussy, while the Technics is built like a tank and is pretty much set and forget. I guess the best way for me to add to this thread would say that 98% of the time, I play the Technics. I also have a TD150 with SME 3009 arm waiting in the wings, but need to build a new armboard and service it before attempting to tune it for a listen. Time will tell.
I would recommend either table and feel sure they would make the owner happy. The 160 is very musical but rather fussy, while the Technics is built like a tank and is pretty much set and forget. I guess the best way for me to add to this thread would say that 98% of the time, I play the Technics. I also have a TD150 with SME 3009 arm waiting in the wings, but need to build a new armboard and service it before attempting to tune it for a listen. Time will tell.
Old_Tech
Yer-isn't!
Thorens
I would definitely get a Thorens while they are around and reasonable. They are classic both in build quality and sound being belt drive and very quiet. Yes finicky but yes also very beautiful to own and operate. They will only get harder to find and go up in price. The DD Technics will always be around and you can always go get a new one.
I would definitely get a Thorens while they are around and reasonable. They are classic both in build quality and sound being belt drive and very quiet. Yes finicky but yes also very beautiful to own and operate. They will only get harder to find and go up in price. The DD Technics will always be around and you can always go get a new one.
I started out on a Technics SL-1800MK2 last year, then picked up a Thorens TD-165. I leveled the playing field as much as possible by using the same cartridge and soldering in identical RCA plugs and wires. My decision was:
1- Easy of use- hands down the Technics. Oh my GOD was that thing easier to deal with!
2- Sound- Just about hands down the Thorens. It edged the 1800 out enough for me to sell it.
Since then, here are a few more upgrades that you may be interested in:
If you get a Thorens, definitely do the mods listed at TheAnalogueDepot.com. They're time consuming, but pretty easy, and they make a huge difference in sound. After I "upgraded" my Thorens, is whipped the Technics in the sound department, at least for Jazz vinyl. Then again, being a professional jazz musician, I'm pretty picky...
Any Thorens TD model with an SME 3009 Improved series 2 tonearm is great, IMHO. I've mounted one on a 145, 160, and 165. It's always an improvement.
I also have a Technics SL-1100A, which started with the stock arm, then I dropped the SME into it. It definitely beats a stock Thorens, but I have a TD-160 with a Grace 707 MK2 that is an almost unbeatable combination. Actually, the Technics seemed to have a bit more wobble to the sound than the Thorens with the the Grace mounted, but I think that I liked the sound better overall with the Technics.
I've finally gave up trying to be conservative and bought a VPI HW019 jr (at an unbeatable price!) that I'm slowly upgrading. That thing kills everything I've personally owned. I've been selling everything else on Audiogon, save one Thorens TD-145, the Grace, the SL-1100A, and a Grado Labs that I restored.
Whatever your decision, isn't it a fun hobby??
-Phil
www.philpalombi.com
1- Easy of use- hands down the Technics. Oh my GOD was that thing easier to deal with!
2- Sound- Just about hands down the Thorens. It edged the 1800 out enough for me to sell it.
Since then, here are a few more upgrades that you may be interested in:
If you get a Thorens, definitely do the mods listed at TheAnalogueDepot.com. They're time consuming, but pretty easy, and they make a huge difference in sound. After I "upgraded" my Thorens, is whipped the Technics in the sound department, at least for Jazz vinyl. Then again, being a professional jazz musician, I'm pretty picky...
Any Thorens TD model with an SME 3009 Improved series 2 tonearm is great, IMHO. I've mounted one on a 145, 160, and 165. It's always an improvement.
I also have a Technics SL-1100A, which started with the stock arm, then I dropped the SME into it. It definitely beats a stock Thorens, but I have a TD-160 with a Grace 707 MK2 that is an almost unbeatable combination. Actually, the Technics seemed to have a bit more wobble to the sound than the Thorens with the the Grace mounted, but I think that I liked the sound better overall with the Technics.
I've finally gave up trying to be conservative and bought a VPI HW019 jr (at an unbeatable price!) that I'm slowly upgrading. That thing kills everything I've personally owned. I've been selling everything else on Audiogon, save one Thorens TD-145, the Grace, the SL-1100A, and a Grado Labs that I restored.
Whatever your decision, isn't it a fun hobby??
-Phil
www.philpalombi.com
eb2jim
Super Member
I sold my Thorens recently after spinning away for on it for about 15 years. It is a great turntable, and has that warm musical quality. I have owned several Technics - I take them in as strays - and while never owning a 1200 have messed around with one at a radio station for a while. Not exactly the same. But I have to say I found my SL-D2 and 202 to be a great machines as well. It is all subjective, but to me the DD Technics seemed harder and tighter than the Thorens. Not bad at all, but different. I would check out the Thorens machines though, as you may love them, and they are certainly fun to come into the room and look at!
And to muddy the water, I sold my Thorens after I picked up a BIC 980 at a garage sale. I didn't want to, but I liked it a lot more.
And to muddy the water, I sold my Thorens after I picked up a BIC 980 at a garage sale. I didn't want to, but I liked it a lot more.
datsunmike
Active Member
Unless you have rock solid floors with no bounce when walking forget the Thorens. I had one in the 70s - a 160(?) that did not play nice with my apartment floors and was useless.
Old_Tech
Yer-isn't!
That's the isolation platform thing...:yes:
goldwax
dozy ming-mong
You could always install a shelf. Me, I had the same problem in my apartment, but then I increased the stylus pressure by .25 grams, and rested the TT on four plywood blocks appropriated from my kids with the feet and bottom board removed (I was in the middle of a suspension retune), and presto--99 percent of skipping due to footfalls was removed. I can't explain it, but I'll take it!
Sid Hartha
Member
Definitely warrants consideration.
No problem with skips or vibrations with mine. The corner location, along with a very solid piece of furniture to support it, helps a lot. (It's less than a foot away from a supporting beam)
KentTeffeteller
Gimpus Stereophilus!
Thorens TD 124 and earlier, St. Croix, Switzerland. Thorens TD-150 and newer, Lahr, Germany (EMT-Franz bought Thorens at that point). Now, the name is owned by someone else. TD= Tourne Disque. French for Turntable! Original US agents for the Thorens Company were located in Kew Gardens, NY.
thedelihaus
Nocturnal transmissions
Nice thing about the thorens is it will remain collectable. So will earlier non-mk model Technics SL-110/1100 and 120/1200s as well. How ofthen do you see a 110/100 or 120/1200 original?
The SL-1200 MK II will retain value, but being ubiquitous, I doubt it will become collectable.
The Thorens offers, as stated, a warm engaging sound. The technics, a bit more analytical.
The one thing I sometimes miss from CDs, despite some of their own downfalls, is the dynamics they can offer. The Technics offers me the best of vinyl's smoothness while keeping, retaining an edge to the music's analytical dynamics more typical with what I find with a cd.
If I need to temper this, I don't swap to a Thorens table- I put a Grado on the Technics. Easy t do. If the record isn't as lively as I'd like, I'll swap to a hotter cart.
Owning a Technics is pretty stress-free, and allotting for interesting modifications that require anywhere from a modicum of skills to somewhat advanced, and adapt well to modification, from simplistic to complex. Like a japanese performance motorcycle.
A Thorens is a labor of love- kind of like owning an old British motorcycle. There's a charm to them for sure, but maybe not as easy to kick over in the morning and they may drip a bit of oil in your driveway.
A bit off-topic- Yamaha's XS650 motor was nothing more than an updated version of the venerable 650 british twin, with a few advances like how the crank-case was split horizontally instead of vertically and using cork gasket instead of rope gasket as to not drip oil, as a few other mods....
The SL-1200 MK II will retain value, but being ubiquitous, I doubt it will become collectable.
The Thorens offers, as stated, a warm engaging sound. The technics, a bit more analytical.
The one thing I sometimes miss from CDs, despite some of their own downfalls, is the dynamics they can offer. The Technics offers me the best of vinyl's smoothness while keeping, retaining an edge to the music's analytical dynamics more typical with what I find with a cd.
If I need to temper this, I don't swap to a Thorens table- I put a Grado on the Technics. Easy t do. If the record isn't as lively as I'd like, I'll swap to a hotter cart.
Owning a Technics is pretty stress-free, and allotting for interesting modifications that require anywhere from a modicum of skills to somewhat advanced, and adapt well to modification, from simplistic to complex. Like a japanese performance motorcycle.
A Thorens is a labor of love- kind of like owning an old British motorcycle. There's a charm to them for sure, but maybe not as easy to kick over in the morning and they may drip a bit of oil in your driveway.
A bit off-topic- Yamaha's XS650 motor was nothing more than an updated version of the venerable 650 british twin, with a few advances like how the crank-case was split horizontally instead of vertically and using cork gasket instead of rope gasket as to not drip oil, as a few other mods....
Dr. Ear
Super Member
This is ridiculous. Both have copied the suspension principle from the Acoustic Research TT. Thorens was next then.
Linn is much hype and a kind of religion. I remember very well when the Linn people tried to make us believe that the aluminium die cast subchassis of the Thorens TD 124 was inferior to their cheap steel sheet one, and next they claimed the superiority of the AC synchronous motor to the DC motor of a TD 126. More musical sound, bla bla.
Just to mention, their latest incarnation of the LP12 turntable is equipped with a ridiculous expensive aluminium subchassis (CNC made because of cost issues and not die cast) and a DC motor. Next upgrade will be a direct drive motor, I am sure.
KentTeffeteller
Gimpus Stereophilus!
And AR got the suspension principle from Stromberg-Carlson back in the 1950's. One of their belt-drive machines originated it back then. AR was impressed with it to the point that Edgar Villchur adopted it when he designed the AR Turntable. Just some history here!
Old_Tech
Yer-isn't!
Thank you Kent very cool info there. We had a "Strombergs" right here in Rochester but they were into other engineering projects. They closed their doors back in the 70's. There were alot of Stromberg Carlson consoles around competing with Zenith and Sylvania and others. I remember that era well but never ever saw an AR turntable until last year. Now I have one on the bench and it is so simply laid out the silly thing makes me nervous working on it! :yes: